T/Sgt James Carl Conley

James Carl Conley was born in Morganton, North Carolina, on februari17, 1920. He was the son of James Claud Conley and Emma Katherine Whetstine-Conley.

James enlisted in Charlotte, NC and was sent to Ft. Moultrie. Stayed until October 1, 1937. He was put on "Chattathere" cattle boat to Panama.

Took 6 days to reach Panama. He was with the 2nd field artillery, 33rd infantry, 11th engineers. All at fort Clayton. Balboa, MP detachement. He was Honorable Dicharge on 10/24/1939.

After Panama he join the Co F, 22nd Infantry, 4th Infantry Division for his 2nd enlistment on 10/25/1939.

James was on the Capetown Castle to Liverpool, England. The Captown Castle was sunk in south Africa a couple of weeks later. He was in England from Januari 1944 to June 1944. Participated in dry run Slapton Sands near Devon (England).

James remembers sitting in the channel all the night waiting for word to begin the Utah Beach invasion of Normandy.

The troops had to leave LCI to board landing craft. There where rope nets to climb down to in a very violent sea.

When the gate of the landing craft came down you had to move down the side and jump off the edge into the water. You couldn't go straight off for danger of being pinned under when a wave hit.

Tech Sgt James Carl Conley's last briefing as they were approaching the beachhead: "You do not stop for anything. You keep going no matter what. You do not look back, there is nothing behind you. If it is your best friend ahead of you and he gets hit, you push him out of the way and keep going. There is only one way out of here and that is to go to shore". They were already taking fire before the gate dropped.

James carl company commander was Captain Fulton.

They reorganized at the sea wall. Captain Fulton's message:"Get your met together we're going in land come hell or high water !"

They moved inland and were in St. Mére Eglise at 12:00pm. James recalls seeing carts picking up dead soldiers of the 101st airborne and the first invasion forces.

James recalls having 1 hot meal in 17 days.

James remembers very heavy fighting on June 12, 1944. He was wounded on june 22, 1944 and would have surgery on August 5, 1944 at a hospitle in England.

James departed for the USA on 12/15/1944 and arrived at 12/17/1944.

James was honorably dicharged July 1945.

Awards

Bronze Star, American Defense Service Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theatre Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal and Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart.

James Carl married Carolyn Henson on December 24, 1940. They had 2 boys: James Claude Conley (1941) and Bradford Lee Conley (1946).

James carl went to work at General Motor in November, 1945. He would stay dear for 31 years and retired.